Identification Means

ABSTRACT

A pump supplies pressurized air to inflate compression garments, mattresses, cushions, or similar at the desired times and to desired pressures appropriate to the therapy. The garments are each identified by small steps generated in the pressure waveform during inflation, with the identifying means including a flat sheet valve in the connector chamber having vents to atmosphere and being situated along the flow path from the pump to the garment(s). As the air flows through the connection tubing and through the connector a pressure wave is generated by the valve and fed back upstream to a pressure sensor in the pump. The shape of the pressure waveform identifies a particular compression garment, the pump supplying the appropriate inflation regime upon detection of this pressure waveform.

The present invention relates to a device supplying pressurised air to an inflatable article and in particular to means in such a device for identifying the article connected.

Existing methods for identifying the article connected to a pump include RFIDs as well metal inserts located in the article connectors. The known methods are expensive and require additional connector parts to operate.

The invention seeks to make improvements.

Accordingly, the invention provides a pump supplying pressurised air to an inflatable article and means for identifying the article connected by way of a pressure waveform generated as the article is initially inflated. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the identification means is connected to a compression garment supplied with pressurised air from a pump. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the identification means is connected to an inflatable support surface, such as a mattress or cushion. Preferably, pressure recordings taken from a pressure sensor in the pump identify the garment or inflatable support surface connected to the pump. Preferably, the identification means is located in the connector, such that as the air flows down the connection tubing and through the connector a pressure wave is mechanically generated and fed back upstream to the pressure sensor. As there are no wires in the system the technique will work with ordinary extension tubing. The identification means generates easily detectable pressure waveform shapes that are detected upstream by the pressure sensor in the pump and advantageously does not effect the inflation applied to the garment or similar article.

An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of pressure waveforms generated by an identification means according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of another preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows an identifying pressure wave according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows another identifying pressure wave according to the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a pressure wave of the prior art;

FIG. 7 shows the identification means according to the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a valve of the identification means;

FIG. 9 shows one connector according to the invention; and

FIG. 10 shows another connector according to the invention.

Referring to the Figures, there are several waveform shapes that are generated, some examples illustrated in FIG. 1. A preferred embodiment of the invention applies the identification means to a compression garment and pump system as shown in FIG. 2. A compressor 1 forces air via a pressure control unit, for example a rotor and stator unit 2 to inflate the garments 3, 4 at the desired times and to the desired pressures appropriate to the therapy. The foot garment 3 is inflated to 130 mmHg for a short period of one second whilst the calf garments 4 (or thigh garment, not shown) are inflated to only 40 mmHg but the pressure is held for a longer period say, eight seconds. The garments 3, 4 are each identified by very small steps generated in the waveform during inflation, the identification means in this example showing one step for the calf garment (see FIG. 4) and two steps for the foot garment 3 (see FIG. 5). FIG. 6 shows the inflation of a foot garment without the identification means where only the initial spike of initiating inflation is seen without any of the differentiating steps thereafter.

The identification means 9 creating the waveform steps can be located anywhere along the tubing and it may be advantageous to locate it at the end of the tubing where it joins to the garment or similar inflatable article as it will prevent non authorised use of the system.

As shown in FIG. 7, the identification means 9 is located within the connector in the preferred embodiment. The identification means consists of a main flat sheet valve 9 in the connector chamber 8 having several vents 10 to atmosphere and comprising the main flow path from the compressor 1 to the garment(s) 3, 4. The main flat sheet valve 9 has two sections 12 and 13 that are free to bend independently with a firmness dependent on the sheet material and the geometry of the valve. It also has a ‘horseshoe’ flap 11 that opens up under pressure allowing air flow into the garments 3, 4, as shown in FIG. 8.

In use, upon initiation of inflation, the air travels into the chamber 8 and then following the path of least resistance the air flows out of the vents 10 to atmosphere rather than into the garment(s) 3, 4. At the same time, the sheet valve 9 that is open at a set mounting angle within the chamber 8 is forced shut by the air flowing around it. The horseshoe flap 11 is shut at this time so the air pushes the main valve 9 as if it were a single solid sheet. In the one step connector (as shown in FIG. 9) as the main valve 9 shuts, section 12 cuts off all the vents 10 to atmosphere, the pressure in the chamber 8 builds up and the horseshoe flap 11 opens allowing the garment 3, 4 to inflate as normal.

This results in a single step being produced in the waveform detected by the pressure sensor 15 in the pump unit 7, as shown in FIG. 4. A very simple method to detect this step is to differentiate the signal and count the spikes, in this case two spikes for the one step. In the two step version not all the vents 10 to atmosphere are cut off by section 12, it is only after the next stage when section 13 is forced down that all the vents 10 to atmosphere are cut off and the horseshoe flap 11 opens. This results in two steps in the waveforms and three spikes counted in the differential signal, as seen in FIG. 5.

The pump 7 initially inflates to detect either one or two steps, and depending on the number of steps detected, the pump provides the appropriate pre-set therapy. If the garments 3 or 4 are changed whilst the pump 7 is turned on it will detect the change in steps before complete inflation and change the therapies. If a standard connector is used then there are no steps detected apart from the initial spike as shown in FIG. 6 and no therapy will be supplied by the pump. The steps are generated regardless of the length of tubing between the garments and the pump. The distance between the steps can be used to detect leaks or low pressure and therefore can be used as a feedback mechanism to set the correct inflation regime.

Instead of the compression garments 3, 4 the pump can be used to supply pressurised air to a support surface as shown in FIG. 3. The same procedure applies and the pump recognises the support surface by means of the steps detected during initial inflation. With respect to the mattresses and cushions, the pump will be pre-set to supply different inflation and deflation cycles and pressures as appropriate. Similarly, the invention can be used where there is a requirement to automatically identify the article connected to a pump and apply the appropriate inflation regime with respect to the timings and pressure.

Although, the specific embodiments have shown the use of a flat valve as a means of generating the identifying pressure waveforms, there are other means of generating the same for example, small plastic balls, discs and reed valves and similar. The steps are generated before the article is inflated allowing the regime to be modified or stopped before the wrong therapy is applied.

The geometry of the chamber, vents sizes, flap material and flap design all have an affect on the operation of the identifying means and the means can be tuned for any particular flow regime desired. 

1. A pump supplying pressurized air to an inflatable article and means for identifying the article connected by way of a pressure waveform generated as the article is initially inflated.
 2. A pump and article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the identifying means is located in a connector connecting the article to the pump.
 3. A pump and article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifying means is located in tubing connecting the article to the pump.
 4. A pump and article as claimed in claim 2 wherein the identifying means generates a pressure waveform as the air flows through the connector, the pressure waveform detected by a pressure sensor in the pump and the control means identifying the waveform to a particular article and instructing the pump to supply the appropriate inflation regime.
 5. A pump and article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the identifying means includes a flat sheet valve in the connector chamber.
 6. A pump and article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the article is an inflatable support surface.
 7. A pump and article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the article is a compression garment.
 8. An inflatable article including: a. a flow path through which the inflatable article receives air, the flow path including a receiving end entering the inflatable article and an opposing supply end into which air is received; b. a valve situated along the flow path, wherein: (1) the valve receives air from the receiving end and supplies air to the supply end, (2) during an inflation cycle over which the inflatable article is inflated and then deflated, the valve interrupts air flow within the flow path; c. a sensor monitoring the pressure in the flow path, wherein the interruption of air flow generated by the valve generates a pressure signature detectable by the sensor, the pressure signature serving to identify the valve.
 9. The inflatable article of claim 8 further including a pump supplying air to the flow path, wherein the pump supplies air in accordance with the pressure signature of the valve.
 10. The inflatable article of claim 9 further including a connector situated along the flow path, wherein: a. the connector removably connects the pump to the article, and b. the valve is situated within the connector.
 11. The inflatable article of claim 8 wherein the valve includes a vent to the atmosphere, wherein the vent is closed after a delay following the start of the inflation cycle.
 12. The inflatable article of claim 8 wherein the interruption of air flow generated by the valve within the flow path occurs during the first 25% of an inflation cycle.
 13. The inflatable article of claim 8 wherein the interruption of air flow generated by the valve within the flow path occurs over less than 25% of the inflation cycle.
 14. The inflatable article of claim 8 wherein the valve includes two or more vents to the atmosphere, wherein at least some of the vents are closed in succession during the course of the inflation cycle.
 15. Two of more of the inflatable articles of claim 8, wherein: a. each article has one or more inflatable chambers therein; b. the articles differ in one or more of: (1) their interior volume to be inflated, and (2) their number of inflatable chambers; and c. each article has a valve generating a different pressure signature.
 16. An inflatable article including: a. an inflatable chamber; b. a pump; c. a valve supplying air to the inflatable chamber from the pump, wherein: (1) during an inflation cycle over which the pump supplies air to the inflatable chamber, the valve provides obstruction to air flow between the pump and the inflatable chamber, (2) the obstruction varies during the course of the inflation cycle, d. a sensor: (1) measuring variations in air pressure arising from the obstruction, and (2) in communication with the pump, wherein the pump supplies air to the inflatable chamber in response to the pressure variations measured by the sensor.
 17. The inflatable article of claim 16 further including a connector situated between the pump and the inflatable chamber, wherein: a. the inflatable chamber is physically connected to the pump via the connector, with the physical connection being detachable and re-attachable at the connector, and b. the valve is situated within the connector.
 18. The inflatable article of claim 16 wherein the valve includes a vent to the atmosphere, wherein the vent is closed after a delay following the start of the inflation cycle.
 19. The inflatable article of claim 16 wherein the interruption of air flow generated by the valve within the flow path occurs during the first 25% of an inflation cycle.
 20. The inflatable article of claim 16 wherein the interruption of air flow generated by the valve within the flow path occurs over less than 25% of the inflation cycle.
 21. The inflatable article of claim 16 wherein the valve includes two or more vents to the atmosphere, wherein at least some of the vents are closed in succession during the course of the inflation cycle.
 22. An inflatable article including: a. an inflatable chamber; b. a pump supplying the inflatable chamber with air over a series of inflation cycles, with: (1) the inflatable chamber at least partially inflating, and at least partially deflating, over the course of each inflation cycle, and (2) each inflation cycle being characterized by a pressure waveform; c. a valve situated downstream from the pump, wherein the valve introduces one or more discontinuities into the pressure waveform, such discontinuities serving to identify the valve; d. a sensor detecting the discontinuities and communicating with the pump to adapt the pressure waveform in response to the identification of the valve.
 23. The inflatable article of claim 22 wherein the valve is provided in a connector situated along a line between the pump and the inflatable chamber.
 24. A method of inflating an inflatable article having an inflatable chamber, the inflatable chamber being supplied with air from a pump via a valve, the method including the steps of: a. supplying the inflatable chamber with air from the pump over a series of inflation cycles, with: (1) the inflatable chamber at least partially inflating, and at least partially deflating, over the course of each inflation cycle, and (2) each inflation cycle being characterized by a pressure waveform; b. detecting discontinuities introduced by the valve into the pressure waveform, such discontinuities serving to identify the valve; c. communicating with the pump to adapt the pressure waveform in response to the identification of the valve.
 25. The method of claim 24: a. wherein the valve is provided within a connector situated in a line leading between the pump and the inflatable chamber; b. further including the step of disconnecting the connector to sever the line between the pump and the inflatable chamber.
 26. The method of claim 24 further including the steps of: a. ceasing supply of air from the pump to the inflatable chamber; b. connecting the pump to a second inflatable chamber to supply air thereto over a series of inflation cycles, the second inflatable chamber having a second valve which introduces discontinuities into the pressure waveforms of the inflation cycles, with such discontinuities serving to identify the second valve; c. adapting the pressure waveforms supplied by the pump in response to the identification of the second valve. 